You can copy and paste specific cell contents or attributes (such as formulas, formats, comments, and validation). By default, if you use the Copy 
Paste menu options
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Select the cells that contain the data or other attributes that you want to copy.
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On the Home tab, click Copy
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Click the first cell in the area where you want to paste what you copied.
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On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Paste, and then do any of the following. The options on the Paste menu will depend on the type of data in the selected cells:
|
Select |
To paste |
|---|---|
|
Paste |
All cell contents and formatting, including linked data. |
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Formulas |
Only the formulas. |
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Formulas & Number Formatting |
Only formulas and number formatting options. |
|
Keep Source Formatting |
All cell contents and formatting. |
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No Borders |
All cell contents and formatting except cell borders. |
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Keep Source Column Widths |
Only column widths. |
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Transpose |
Reorients the content of copied cells when pasting. Data in rows is pasted into columns and vice versa. |
|
Paste Values |
Only the values as displayed in the cells. |
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Values & Number Formatting |
Only the values and number formatting. |
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Values & Source Formatting |
Only the values and number color and font size formatting. |
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Formatting |
All cell formatting, including number and source formatting. |
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Paste Link |
Link the pasted data to the original data. When you paste a link to the data that you copied, Excel enters an absolute reference to the copied cell or range of cells in the new location. |
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Paste as Picture |
A copy of the image. |
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Linked Picture |
A copy of the image with a link to the original cells (if you make any changes to the original cells those changes are reflected in the pasted image). |
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Column widths |
Paste the width of one column or range of columns to another column or range of columns. |
|
Merge conditional formatting |
Combine conditional formatting from the copied cells with conditional formatting present in the paste area. |
Paste Special options
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Select the cells that contain the data or other attributes that you want to copy.
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On the Home tab, click Copy
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Click the first cell in the area where you want to paste what you copied.
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On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Paste, and then select Paste Special.
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Select the options you want.
Paste options
|
Select |
To paste |
|---|---|
|
All |
All cell contents and formatting, including linked data. |
|
Formulas |
Only the formulas. |
|
Values |
Only the values as displayed in the cells. |
|
Formats |
Cell contents and formatting. |
|
Comments |
Only comments attached to the cell. |
|
Validation |
Only data validation rules. |
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All using Source theme |
All cell contents and formatting using the theme that was applied to the source data. |
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All except borders |
Cell contents and formatting except cell borders. |
|
Column widths |
The width of one column or range of columns to another column or range of columns. |
|
Formulas and number formats |
Only formulas and number formatting. |
|
Values and number formats |
Only values and number formatting options from the selected cells. |
|
All, merge conditional formats |
Combine conditional formatting from the copied cells with conditional formatting present in the paste area. |
Operation options
The Operation options mathematically combine values between the copy and paste areas.
|
Click |
To |
|---|---|
|
None |
Paste the contents of the copy area without a mathematical operation. |
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Add |
Add the values in the copy area to the values in the paste area. |
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Subtract |
Subtract the values in the copy area from the values in the paste area. |
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Multiply |
Multiply the values in the paste area by the values in the copy area. |
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Divide |
Divide the values in the paste area by the values in the copy area. |
Other options
|
Click |
To |
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Skip Blanks |
Avoid replacing values or attributes in your paste area when blank cells occur in the copy area. |
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Transpose |
Reorients the content of copied cells when pasting. Data in rows is pasted into columns and vice versa. |
|
Paste Link |
If data is a picture, links to the source picture. If the source picture is changed, this one will change too. |
Tip: Some options are available both on the Paste menu and in the Paste Special dialog box. The option names might vary a bit but the results are the same.
Tip: In Excel for Mac version 16.33 or higher, the "paste formatting", "paste formulas", and "paste values" actions can be added to your quick-access toolbar (QAT) or assigned to custom key combinations. For the keyboard shortcuts, you'll need to assign a key combination that isn't already being used to open the Paste Special dialog.
See Also
Move or copy cells, rows, or columns
